Welcome to the

International Early Years Curriculum

The IEYC Story

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The IEYC Story: Research

Research Report: A Comparison of Early Years Education

In 2015 we commissioned a research report to determine:
• Historical perspective / teacher feedback
• Global trends in EY education
• Country specific age ranges and provision
• Current research in early childhood development

We looked at a range of world-renowned early childhood frameworks, including:

England: The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

New Zealand: Te Whàriki

Singapore: Nuturing Early Learners

Sweden: Läroplan Förskolan 98

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The IEYC Story: The UN Convention
on the Rights of the Child (1989)

Article 29: Goals of

Education
Education must develop every
child’s personality, talents and
abilities to the full. It must
encourage the child’s respect for
human rights, as well as respect for
their parents, their own and other
cultures, and the environment

Article 31: Leisure, Play
and Culture
Every child has the right to relax,
play and take part in a wide range of
cultural and artistic activities.
20 November 1989 - UNICEF press conference, United Nations, New York.
UNICEF holding a press conference as the General Assembly adopts a United
Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. From left to right are James
Grant, Executive Director of UNICEF, Jan Martenson, Under-Secretary-General
for Human Rights and Director, United Nations, Geneva, and Audrey Hepburn,
Goodwill Ambassador of UNICEF. (Photo credit: UN Photo/John Isaac)

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Why is investing in early childhood
education important?

Economist recognise that investment in early childhood education =

future returns:
• Private returns: those that the individual gets
• Social returns: the private returns plus additional benefits for society
• Global returns: the private and social returns plus additional benefits for the
world
Educationalists also recognise that high quality early childhood
education results in gains for individuals, society and the world.

• Research indicates that genes provide the initial plan for the brain’s
architecture, but experiences shape it.*

*Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child (http://developingchild.harvard.edu/science/key-concepts/brain-architecture/)

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The IEYC Guiding Statement

The IEYC is an innovative research-based toolkit, recognising global best-

practice and the developmental needs of 2-5 year olds. It supports key
areas of learning through holistic enquiry and play-based approaches
encompassing all curriculum areas including personal, social and emotional
development.

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The IEYC Learning Principles

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The IEYC Learning Principles

There are eight Learning Principles that underpin all practice in the IEYC,
developed from our research report findings.

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Learning Principle 3: Importance of Play

Play is an essential aspect of all

children’s learning and development

• Play is an innate part of childhood

• Teachers need to create the right
conditions for children to learn
through play

• There are many different types of

play

• Learning through play is often

misunderstood

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Developing communication skills
through play…

This film features national play experts Sue Palmer and Tim Gill; and chief executive of the Royal College of
Speech and Language Therapists.
SOURCE: London Borough of Hounslow YouTube channel(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_-1O_rBLPU)

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The IEYC Learning Strands

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The IEYC Learning Strands

All IEYC learning and development is underpinned by a set of four Learning

Strands.

Each Learning Strand provides descriptions of what children will experience

and learn about through contextualised activities woven into IEYC units of
learning.

1. Independence and
2. Communicating
Interdependence

4. Healthy Living and

3. Enquiring
Physical Well-Being

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The IEYC Learning Strands

The Four Learning Strands

IEYC Learning Strands fall into two

distinct phases of learning and
development: 1. Independence and
2. Communicating
Interdependence

Learning Strand Phase A:

describes learning experiences with
4. Healthy Living and
the youngest children in mind. 3. Enquiring
Physical Well-Being

Learning Strand Phase B:

describes learning experiences that
provide more of a challenge.

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The IEYC Learning Strands

The IEYC believes that children should have experiences which are both
appealing to them and developmentally appropriate.

This means that at times, a combination of both Phase A and B learning

experiences may be appropriate for some children, whilst at other times
their interests and developmental needs may fall specifically into either
Phase A or B.

For children requiring more of a

challenge, Phase A tasks may be
helpful to consolidate previous
learning and Phase B tasks will
support new learning.

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The IEYC Learning Strands

INDEPENDENCE & HEALTHY LIVING &

COMMUNICATING ENQUIRING
INTERDEPEDENCE PHYSICAL WELL-BEING

Focuses on developing Focuses on Focuses on developing Focuses on developing a

personal, social and communicating through: the skills of enquiry positive attitude to:
emotional development. through exploring:
1. Speaking and Listening • Health
• People
This strand links to: 2. Reading
• Self care
• The world
• The IEYC Personal Goals 3. Writing
• Physical Activity
4. Number
• The IEYC International
Dimension
5. Shape and Measures

6. ICT and Computing

7. Expressive Arts and

Creativity

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Learning Outcomes

The IEYC Learning Outcomes have been developed to help guide children’s
learning and development and support reflective teaching practices.
In this way, the IEYC Learning Outcomes contribute to the evaluation of
and planning for personalised learning.

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Learning Outcomes

The IEYC suggests that by the end of the curriculum, children will have
typically developed knowledge and an increasing understanding of specific
aspects of learning and development, and the skills of being able to
demonstrate learning and development in practical ways.

There will be differences in when and how learning takes place, and when
children can demonstrate what they know and what they are able to do.

We believe that it is more important to focus on IEYC Learning Principle 2:

Children should be supported to learn and develop at their own unique
pace, in conjunction with the other seven IEYC Learning Principles, rather
than to focus merely on achievement alone.

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The IEYC Process of Learning

The IEYC process of learning captures children’s natural curiosity as a

starting point and within the proper environment balances child-initiated and
teacher-guided learning.

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The IEYC Process of Learning

Entry Point
An Entry Point should be planned in a way that makes it possible for teachers to
observe, talk to children and capture each child’s curiosity so that interests can be
developed as the IEYC unit of learning progresses.

Capturing Curiosity
The process should continue as the IEYC unit of learning evolves; it requires
teachers to observe, listen, question and reflect on what children are interested in.
Capturing a picture of what children are curious to explore and learn about is
essential to planning a learning environment that enables children to engage, play,
explore and develop knowledge, an increasing understanding, and new skills.

Enable the Environment

An environment that is enabled for learning is one where children feel safe to
explore and provides opportunities for social, emotional and personal development
to take place. An enabled environment is not static; it is developed over time by
responding to each child’s learning journey as an IEYC unit of learning progresses.

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The IEYC Process of Learning, cont’d…

The Big Picture for: Teachers, Children, The Home

Provides teachers, children and the home with an overview of an IEYC unit
of learning. It prepares children for new learning experiences, whilst at the
same time helps establish connections with previous learning. The Big
Picture also provides further opportunities for Capturing Curiosity.

Explore and Express

Provides children with opportunities to engage in Phase Level IEYC
learning activities that have been holistically designed around the Learning
Strands.

Exit Point
Provides opportunities for children to reflect, share and celebrate what they
have learned. Exit Points are often used to share and demonstrate learning
with members of the setting community.

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Sample Units

Our units are based around themes that capture children’s curiosity.
Additional units to be released in 2017!
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Supporting all educators

The IEYC is designed to

support all types of
EY educators, including:

• Teachers
• Child Care
Professionals
• Non-specialists

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